Ventolin leave it late to recover a stunning victory over Brighton Arthritic
Ventolin Inhalers gave themselves an outside chance of clinching the championship title with a super 5-2 victory over relegation strugglers Brighton Arthritic.
With injueries and holidays reducing the Inahlers to a bare five and no regular goalkeeper, there was some concern that they would be unable to field a team in another must win game. Ventolin did manage to get five players, although four of them were caught in traffic and arrived 8 minutes late but just before the referee was about to award the game to the Arthritic.
It was therefore no surprise when Arthritic burst into a two goal lead inside the first five minutes, thorugh a combination of good play and some chaotic ventolin defending. This seemed to rouse the inhalers famous spirit and within minutes JOhn Archdeacon had finished off a superb team move, slotting the ball home after a fine low cross from Lawrence L.
And that is how it remained until half time, with Ventolin having now given themselves a platform to win the game in the second half.
Archdeacon who was having his best game of the season, was again clinical finishing off another flowing team move started by Keeley at the back and culminating in Plass playing in Archdeacon to apply another killer finish. Arthritic roared back, and would have scored but for Plass in the Inhalers goal leaping like a salmon to tip a goalbound effort around the post.
2-2 game on. With the wind in their sails, ventolin now stepped up a gear with all five players contributing fully, playing good passing football and creating chances to win the game. Plass and Keeley at the back were not only thwarting all Arthritic attacks but also providing the spring board for Ventolin to move forward and attack. In the middle of the pitch Lawrence was now getting on the ball and using it well, in fact it was he who gave the inahlers the lead for the first time in the match, beating two players before collecting a return pass from Andy and firing the ball home.
Andy who was also having a superb game then scored perhaps the goal of the game, after carrying the ball from deep he unleashed a fine strike past the hapless keeper.
4-2 and the comeback was almost complete. There was just time for Lawrence to cap a fine performance with a silky piece of skill, beating several players and the keeper to round off Ventolin's magnificent comeback.
There was barely time to resume before the referee signalled the end of the game.
After the match both Joe Plass and John Archdeacon spoke at length to BBC reporters.
We were all round superb tonight, considering we were so late and had to come back from two down, i thought we showed the inhalers legend still lives, said Plass.
Archdeacon was elated not only with his return to form, but the superb performace of Loz along side him who scored two and set up both of his goals.
As results stand a win next week could have three outcomes - the champions, runners up or 3rd place such is the competition at the top of the table.
Ventolin will be hoping both Barton and Dain are available for selection in next weeks crunch game against adam spence, although they may have to start on the bench such was the quality of this weeks performance.
